Fire Protection Design Manual - Office of Construction and Facilities ...

September-2011
B. Notification of staff for response shall be by digital voice (speaker) systems unless not
warranted by existing conditions (e.g., small extensions to an existing coded system). For
new systems, do not use coded or taped voice systems. Where speakers are installed as the
notification appliance, the fire alarm system shall be designed such that it is possible to
manually broadcast an emergency voice message simultaneously to all buildings provided
with speakers. Selectable switches shall also be provided at the fire alarm voice control
panel so that a manual voice message can be communicated to each connected building
individually. As a minimum, provide one switch per building. Additional switches (e.g., one
switch per floor or zone) are optional.
C. Coordinate fire alarm zones with smoke compartments and sprinkler zones (See Section
6.1.N).
D. Provide initiating devices in accordance with NFPA 101, NFPA 72, and provide additional
manual pull stations adjacent to the nurse's stations in health care occupancies.
E. Provide institutional style (key to operate or locking covers) pull stations in psychiatric areas.
Provide covers on pull stations in child care centers to prevent children from initiating
unwanted alarms. Coordinate with the facility.
F. Notification Appliances: Placement and spacing of notification appliances shall be in
accordance with NFPA 72 and shall be selected based on the purpose of the notification (i.e.,
general evacuation or staff response) as follows:
1. General Evacuation (See output 1 of Table 7.3): Where general evacuation is required,
the audible signal shall conform to ANSI S3.41, Audible Emergency Evacuation Signal
(i.e., temporal three pattern).
Note: These requirements are based on the building or area of the building being evacuated
upon alarm. Many areas in a health care setting should be designed as general evacuation
areas since there will be few or no trained staff to direct traffic. For example, cafeterias,
basements, and administration sections could be considered to be general evacuation areas.
For small stand-alone buildings, systems using bells or horns should be provided unless
communication from the main hospital building using a voice system is desired. See the
discussion under Section 7.3.F.2, Staff Response.
a. Provide audible notification appliances to be heard in all locations throughout the
protected premises (building).
b. Provide visible notification appliances in all public accessible areas of the building
such as corridors, auditoriums, cafeterias, open assembly rooms >= 750 ft 2 , canteens,
retail stores, etc. Exception: Visible notification appliances are not required in the
following spaces which are not considered to be public accessible:
1) Individual office spaces unless the space is known to have a hearing impaired
person stationed there.
2) Closets (janitor’s, clothes, etc.)
3) Utility shafts.
4) Crawl spaces.
5) Normally unoccupied rooms